Crain returned to the area at first light Thursday. He said he “just happened to notice the barbed wire” surrounding the mine shaft, and went in closer to examine the opening.

That’s when he saw his puppy.

“High Desert is peppered with abandoned mine shafts,” said Eric Sherwin, spokesman for the San Bernardino County Fire Department.

Sherwin said this type of rescue is not uncommon and his team is well-trained. Members of the department’s Urban Search and Rescue team rigged a high-angle contraption (pictured at right) on the edge of the mine shaft, and a firefighter propelled down the shaft.

The tiny dog was found sitting on a ledge about 25 feet down.

“She very lucky, I guess, because there was a ridge she was sitting on there. Otherwise, she could’ve went on down, could’ve been finished,” Crain said with tears in his eyes.

Puppy Dog wasn’t hurt in the fall, and won’t be accompanying her owner on any more desert adventures, Crain said.